This issue came to my mind the other day vie-sa-vie the 'where have all the reports gone' thread. Obviously this list is evolving from it's earlier structure, and folks are curious what that means.
Can we tinker with it and conform it to our desires (i.e. passwords and post or perish)? I'd guess no more than we can tinker with nature and have it work out the way we foresee. It might be better to adjust our own expectations and needs rather than try and fix something we can't really control. My own experience was coming to the list from finding something in the archives and I suspect plenty of new members come that way. I don't lurk it's not my way so I jumped right in, but it may not work that way for others...it might take a while. I thought this was a very interesting statement; "The list is only as good as the information that subscribers post to it. If lurkers don't contribute to the group, their absence won't be felt." The first sentence is the golden rule of internet boards/lists. The second sentence is also very true yet so is its omission. Their absence and potential contribution won't be known either. If we want a vibrant group then we will need new members, some will contribute and some will just lurk, so be it. If you want it back the way it was, just start a new invitation only list but you'll never get this Jeanie back in the bottle. PS if you do start a new list invite me...I'd like to be on both. ;)) Have fun Paul
